REVIEW

Tenth Annual Woods Hole Film Festival
by Erika Hahn

(l to r) Stephen Stapinski, Dorothy Dwyer, Laura Bernieri, Kevin Fennessey after the screenplay reading of "Water" by Mary Feuer. Photo by Erika Hahn courtesy Woods Hole Film Festival.

Christy Cashman signs autographs at the Woods Hole Film Festival after
the screening of BARSTOW 2008 in which she co-starred. Photo by Erika Hahn courtesy Woods Hole Film Festival.

"This year's Woods Hole Film Festival (WHFF) was a triumphant success," proclaimed WHFF's Artistic Director David Klieler. Eight days (July 28 to August 4) of over 40 films, workshops, panel discussions, parties, and staged screenplay readings focused on the best New England filmmaking has to offer.

Judy Laster, Festival Director, and Assistant Director Fay Dearborn put on one stellar well-attended event after another. Filmmakers and actors were on hand all week to show off their talents and just hang out. Chris Cooper (AMERICAN BEAUTY actor) performed in a screenplay reading of his wife Marianne Leone's Elvis Heals, casting by Boston's own Kevin Fennessey and starring Christy Cashman, who hosted the Wednesday night party. Producer Mitchell Robbins stopped by Saturday to check things out and talk about his projects. Mary Feuer and crew came by to attend their screening of BARSTOW 2008, a comedy about an affable loser who dreams of his desert town hosting the 2008 Olympic Games. Filmmaker D. R. Farquharson and cast of GAVIN'S WAY stayed the whole week after their film premiered opening night. Laura Bernieri led the How to Market your Film workshop at FCTV, planned the 10th Anniversary Party, and saw the screenplay reading of Mary Feuer's Water. Mark Wilkinson, Producer of DISCHORD, came to the screening of his film with his lovely star Annunziata Gianzero. The film, shot on location on outer Cape Cod, was introduced by Dr. Jelle Atema, Woods Hole scientist and flutist. Richard Moos was on hand to do Q&A for his film ORPHAN on July 29th.

The shorts program August 2nd was curated by renowned animator Bill Plympton who screened such classics as BAMBI MEETS GODZILLA along with his own award-winning shorts and a scene from his feature MUTANT ALIENS. During Q&A Plympton gave out his little movie still viewers to question askers.

The 10th Anniversary party at the Nimrod Restaurant came after a special screening August 3rd of Kate Davis' stunning documentary SOUTHERN COMFORT. Kate was a co-founder of WHFF ten years ago with Judy Laster, the WHFF Festival Director. Gerry Peary, Phoenix Film Reviewer, introduced the film.

The closing night party at the Captain Kidd had Mass Film Office sponsorship with Tim Grafft congratulating everyone. Ample food and drink sustained fest goers and volunteers after a strenuous week.

On the just-grin-and-bear-it side, there were the usual projector snafus. WHOI's Redfield Auditorium's Beta projector shut off at 11 pm so events were rescheduled slightly. One filmmaker from NYC arrived agitated and Mary Chiochios managed to calm him down enough to show his film YOU'RE A BAD BOY July 30th, a short based on a real story about a young child pulling down another child's pants in curiosity. After all the drama, during Q&A the filmmaker won everyone over with his humor and honesty.

Director Mark Gaspar came from NYC to do a Directing a Scene workshop for four days at Falmouth Community Television Channel 13. Also, Alice Stone (whose film EXPIRED screened opening night) did the workshop Writing Great Dialog, and Pat Heaphy of Liberty Post, NYC's workshop Post Production. He was one of the more popular people at the festival. His company converted films onto DVD for WHFF screenings, and his nearby boat held some wild after-hour partying (or so we hear).

The usual lament was heard about how hard it is to get financing and sell your work in independent film. Writer Timothy Dowling (GEORGE LUCAS IN LOVE, the most successful short in history made its money back) credited luck and a good idea. He was also the star of EVIL HILL, a delightful satire of how Mike Meyer's Dr. Evil of AUSTIN POWERS got that way.

This year's fest went all out with audience participation in voting for their favorite films. Volunteers (including Paris Kiely and Barbara McGovern) handed out and collected ballots all week. J.P. Ouellette, Treasurer of WHFF and owner of Yankee Classic Pictures, was seen hunched over his Laptop logging voter data.

During a filmmaker's brunch, Judy Laster gave audience choice winners the prestigious Marilyn Award, a local artist produced WHFF 10th Annual ceramic bowl. Best at Fest went to Bestor Cram's UNFINISHED SYMPHONY, a Vietnam War documentary. Best Documentary went to SOUTHERN COMFORT, which airs next year on HBO. And in a special category: Best Spagetti Western went to Judy Laster for her film that started it all 10 years ago. Best Feature went to SHADOW GLORIES, Ziad Hamzeh and Marc Sandler's film about a young woman kickboxer determined to beat the men's world champion in the ring. Look for that film in theatrical release this September. Best Short went to THE LEGEND OF CHAD, Richard Farrell's hilarious look at thieves outsmarted by Floridians while trying to steal the discarded chads of Palm Beach County.

Erika Hahn is a freelance writer and photographer. She attends graduate school in TV Production at Emerson College. She helps on the Woods Hole Film Festival and the Boston Underground Film Festival. Contact Erika at ehahn@capecod.net.